Ambade Bharth (Coconut Based Hog Plum Dish)

Ambade Bharth is a 'no- cook' coconut based dish. It is a traditional Konkani dish and unfortunately (I guess) this is in the list of forgotten recipes. In this dish the hog plums are used as a souring agent. The cooked hog plum pulp is mixed with spicy coconut paste, chopped onion, ginger and green chilli. It is then diluted with water to get desired consistency. Finally coconut oil is drizzled on top which gives a kick to the dish. It is generally served with white rice. 

I grew up eating this dish. My mother makes it whenever hog plums are in season. I used to help her in making it. It had been a long time since I had it. This is my first try in making it. While I was making, it brought back fond memories of cooking with my mother. It tasted exactly how my mother used to make. I am so glad to find the hog plums in my International stores. The dish is very simple yet tasty. Do try making it and I hope you will like it. 

Ingredients:

• Grated Coconut, Fresh/Frozen - 1/2 cup
• Hog Plums, medium sized - 3
• Roasted Dry red chilli - 1-2
• Ginger, finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
• Green Chilli, finely chopped - 1/2 tsp
• Onion, finely chopped- 1/4 cup
• Coconut oil - 1 tsp
• Salt- To taste

Procedure:

Wash the hog plums and take them in a small saucepan along with 1/2 cup water and little salt.

Cook them for 4-5 minutes or until it turns soft. Then turn off the heat and let it cool completely.

Meanwhile chop the onion, ginger and green chilli finely. Set it aside until required.

Now take grated coconut, roasted dry red chilli in a blender.

Grind it along with little amount of water to get a paste (not very fine).

Take a mixing bowl and mash the cooked hog plums. Remove the pulp as much as possible discarding the seed. (Usually hog plums has a seed in the middle. Mine was tender, hence it didn't have any).

Then transfer the ground paste, chopped onion, ginger and green chilli into the bowl containing hog plum pulp. 

Add water to get the desired thickness (I kept it medium thick). Taste the mixture and add salt accordingly. Drizzle coconut oil at the end and give a good mix. 

Ambade Bharth is ready!

Serve it along with white rice and any side dish of your choice. Above measurement serves 2-3 people.